The field of dentistry in the USA is ranked #11 in the list of Best Paying Jobs, #16 in Best Health Care Jobs, #17 in Best STEM Jobs, and being a dentist in US is ranked #47 in 100 Best Jobs as reported by ‘A World Report by US News.’ A four-year Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) degree is popular in the United States. Both follow the same curriculum and are equal to the Indian Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS). However, unlike India, dental education schools in the United States admit only DDS or DMD candidates who have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree from the US or Canadian institution. Students with a BDS degree from India who want to practise dentistry in the United States can enrol for a two-year Advanced Standing Doctor of Dentistry programme. Over 30 universities across the country offer it. Aside from that, certain US colleges offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees in dentistry. Graduates of such programmes are not permitted to practise dentistry but must work as an assistant, hygienist, technician, or other position under the supervision of a dentist. Read this blog to know about the courses available for a Dentist in US.
Eligibility Criteria to Become a Dentist in the US
To become a dentist in the United States, you must complete the following steps:
- Earn a four-year bachelor’s degree in the United States or Canada.
- Pass the DAT exam.
- Enrol in a DDS/DMD programme and complete it.
- Pass the National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) test, which is nationally recognised.
- Pass dental licensure exams at the state level.
- Have intern-level experience in dentistry (by shadowing well-recognised dentists)
Admission Process to Become a Dentist in the US
Application Formalities
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Check Your Eligibility for 80+ Universities across the USA
Book a free counselling session and find universities where you can get an Admission!
The first step to enrolling yourself in a dental college is to apply through the ADEA (Associated American Dental Schools Application Service) (ADEA AADSAS). You must use the ADEA AADSAS to apply to most dental degree schools in the United States. The ADEA AADSAS system collects, verifies, and processes or distributes your application information to each institution to which you have applied. It is vital to remember that ADEA AADSAS does not make admissions decisions; each institution is responsible for its own admissions decisions. In June, the ADEA AADSAS will open around the first of the month.
Take the Dental Admissions Examination (DAT)
The DAT is required by all dental schools in the United States, and some will accept the Canadian DAT. You must check with the individual colleges to see if the Canadian DAT is accepted.
Submit Additional Information as Requested by the Dental School
A supplemental application is used by a number of colleges to obtain additional information from applicants. This is separate from the ADEA AADSAS application and is sent to the school directly.
Take Part in Interview
To be considered for admission, most dental schools require an interview. The process and schedule will vary by school, and mini-interviews may be conducted one-on-one, in groups, or multiple. Typically, members of the school’s admissions committee conduct them.
Documents Required for Programmes in Dentistry in the USA
If you want to pursue a Dentistry degree in the USA, the documents you would need to submit are:
- A completed application for admission
- DAT scores
- Certification of shadowing hours
- Educational records from all educational institutions attended
- Proof of English language competency via a test such as the TOEFL, IELTS, or similar
- CV/resume
- Recommendation letters (2-3)
- Scores on standardised exams such as the GRE and others that are required for studies in the United States of America
- Proof of sufficient funds to cover at least a year of study in the United States of America
- Passport photocopy
Top Colleges to Become a Dentist in the USA
International students can pursue DMD or DDS degree at six colleges in the United States that are ranked among the top 50 dental institutes in the world by QS Rank 2020. The following is a list of them, along with their fees:
Harvard University
The Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) is Harvard University’s dental school. It is located in Boston, Massachusetts, in the Longwood Medical Area. In addition to the DMD degree, the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences provides speciality training programmes, an advanced standing program, and a PhD programme. Dentistry is regarded as a medical speciality by the programme.
QS Ranking 2020: 9
Annual Fees: $65,000
Acceptance Rate: 4.7%
University of California San Francisco
The University of California San Francisco’s (UCSF) School of Dentistry is a dentistry school located in San Francisco, California. It is the oldest dental school in California and the western United States, established in 1881. The American Dental Association has granted its accreditation.
QS Ranking 2020: 9
Annual Fees: $11,500
Acceptance Rate: 4.7%
New York University
The substantial research activity at NYU Dentistry, including student research, is driven by an integrated, collaborative strategy. Dentists who attend college are taught to consider the link between research and private clinical practice as seamless. Nearly ten per cent of dentists in the United States are educated at NYU College of Dentistry (NYU Dentistry).
QS Ranking 2020: 14
Annual Fees: $53,600
Acceptance Rate: 7.4%
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university. It is a Public Ivy or a public institution that delivers an academic experience comparable to an Ivy League university. It is the flagship of the University of North Carolina system.
QS Ranking 2020: 18
Annual Fees: $67,000
Acceptance Rate: 25%
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine is an Ivy League university in Philadelphia. It is one of Penn’s twelve graduate schools, as well as one of the state’s multiple dental schools. The University of Pennsylvania Health System includes it.
QS Ranking 2020: 22
Annual Fees:$77,500
Acceptance Rate: 9%
University of California Los Angeles
The UCLA School of Dentistry is a dentistry school at the University of California, Los Angeles. It is housed at the Center for Health Sciences building in Los Angeles’ Westwood district.
QS Ranking 2020: 27
Annual Fees: $19,000
Acceptance Rate: 14.3%
Conclusion
Students who pursue a degree to become a dentist in the US will benefit from world-class facilities and curricula that will help them flourish in this field. All of the universities listed above offer courses that will help you develop a better understanding of the key concepts of dentistry. Dental students also learn several job-related skills to help them get respectable positions after completing their degree. Contact LeapScholar for further information.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the career options in Dentistry?
Dentistry provides a variety of fascinating job opportunities in oral health. Apart from private practice in general dentistry, there are significant prospects in teaching and research, as well as government and industry jobs. Academic dentistry, public health dentistry, hospital dentistry, and international dentistry are all possibilities.
2. What is the minimum GPA required for dentistry school?
You will need a college GPA of at least 3.2 to be accepted into a competitive dentistry programme.
3. Which major is ideal for a Dentistry school?
Biology, chemistry, and pre-med are useful majors for dental school applicants; they may reduce the number of courses required in dental school.
